The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-07
TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT
He Doubts the Sincerity of Mr.. Pulit-
zer's Civil-Service Reform Principles,
Sayings Of Other Editors-Deiphic Re-
mark About the Wheeling Incident.

w
House during three days of last week. In this.
probably the first accorded interview
with him since he was elected President.
is set forth, to the extent of six columns,
Mr.. Clevelands views upon such topics of
national interest and Importance his
denomination. civil-service reform, the financial
situation, the Wheeling incident, and his coming
visit to the South and West The immediate
object of Mr. Smiths visit to Washlng ton was to
deliver message from Mr.. Pulitzer to
President Cleveland touching the matter of
bis recent instructions to the Pacific
Railroad Commission at San Francisco. The
press dispatches it will. be remembered, report
ed that the Presidents bad left it merely dis
cretionary with the commission to employ ad-
ditional counsel to argue before the United
States court the question whether the commits
sion had the right to compel witnesses to
answer. On these press dispatches was
founded the Worlds editorial criticism of
the Presidents action, after application
for the exact text of the instructions had failed
of results both in Washington and San Fran
cisco .Some days afterwards" says the
spondent, ''the President gave out the text of
his reply, and the World promptly expressed
its regret that it had been led into criticism
when it should, the Presidents published tele-
gram fully warranted. have commended the
emphasis of his response to the suggestion Of
the commissioners. At the same time that the
President furnished this reply to the press he
was represented to have referred to the World
an opposition newspaper and to misrepre-
sen tatiops of which he was reported to have said
it had been guilty in regard to him. was in
structed by Mr. Pulitzer to express verbally TO the
President his regret at the mistake alluded to;
to say that while the editor of the World criti-
cised frankly what he believed to be wrong in
party or President as in any organization COM
Or
to give his warmest advocacy to every act Of
any person or organization which was in the in
terest of the people.
Mr.. Pulitzer's message having been delivered,
the President said
81 fully appreciate the valuable work the
World has done in the reformation of abuses in
New York and its efforts in so many directions
in behalf of the people But have seen in the
World. with great regret and surprise. a dispo-
sition times throw obstacles in
the way of my efforts to establish civil service
reform so firmly that there can never be re-
seeming to be it's friend. refer to the repub-
fishing of the comments of newspapers hostile to
me and my purpose often Republican newspa-
pers. and thus giving currency, through the
carping attacks which otherwise would
be limited to the small and local
appeared. No man in the country can know
the embarrassments and the perplexities
which have surrounded me in attempting to
mend the condition of public affairs. With these
Limitations to the Immediately successful accom-
plishment Of my purpose, but guided by every
light light possible to be. be made available. e.. l
the remedy without the least personal ambition
or intent Notwithstanding the natural aggrava-
ton which have felt in noting the apparent dis
position against me personally. see the desire
of Mr. Pulitzer through the World to aid in the
same direction but the fact is l am necessarily
the person low to bring this reform about, and
is there any better way to secure the accomplish
ment of reform than by helping me TO accomp-
lish it if he he believes me, me honest in
the one to whom those who are interested in
safe termination of the journey must of nsces-
sy ,est p tb say sr,ain
from my inability to name for office all those
recommended by my near personal and political
friends were sufficient cause for alienation
those who wish me well would be very few to-
day"
4 The President denied that he believed. as had
4 been alleged, that Mr.. Pulitzers apparent
friendness grew out of the fact that he had
failed to secure the appointment of his Mr.
Pulitzer 81 attorney. Charles Gibson. OF St
Louis. to a foreign MISSION and added that Mr.
Pulitzer had never solicited any other appoint
ment
In subsequent conversation the President said
that the composition of the Pacific Railroad
Commission had been matter of unusual
thought and consideration with him. aud, in
view OF the valuable information, he was
glad that the question decided by Justice
Field against the commission had not been
raised earlier. Their dispatch ending
the employment of additional counsel had been
answered imm ediatefy, and full power given
them. Why such counsel had not been employed
he had not been informed but he understood
that reasonable adjournment to examine
into the law had been expected
Concerning events in Grand Army circles, Mr.
Cleveland said: 1.-The soldier having laid down
his arms. after making SO many sacrifices and
enduring so many hardshps, having achieved
such vast and good work IN perpetuating our
Republic. should be preeIninently the best
citizon When he again. in times of peace,
resumes his citizenship his desire for the peace
and quiet of his country and its prosperity, en-
tirely dependent upon. these. should be en-
phasized by the very trials he has undergone.
do not believe he be carried away from the
even plane of that good citizenship by the de-
vices of INSCRIPTIONS men who would use him
for partisan purposes"
He further said he did not fear there would be
any overt acts in St. Louis in retaliation for the
Wheeling incident. because it was contrary to
what he knew to be the spirit of the municipal
and commercial bodies which had invited him
there and which he believed to be the spirit of
the whole people of St. Louis
With the progress of clvil-servce reform the
President is very much pleased. ''In the first
year and half of my administration, said he.
thousand. each company filing the room
and emptying it only to make way for
another throng. and there was always the same
formula I have come, Mr. President. to ask
that - be removed The reason I would
say. why, he is Republican, would be the
uniform answer This was repeated over and
seemingly hopeless iteration. had
always-I could have-but the
answer: You must bring me proof or
his unfitness as a public officer understood
very we'll their inability to comprehend this.
Knowing very we'll the processes which had OBJ
tanned here for many years, I could but SYM
pathize with their inability. But now the form
ula is altogether changed / have not heard
that expression for many month past. 1t is now,
at the outset of every application for change:
This man is unfit, faithess public servant,
and these the reasons Is not this very
great deal to have accomplished? Is not this
sufficient answer, for the time that has inter-
vened, to those who may complain that more
has not been accom- piishedg
Concerning the question of his denomination |
Mr.. Cleveland said: ut seems to be the uni /
versal belief that President must desire
nomination. / cannot understand how any man
who has served term President could |
have personal ambition in securing second
term, with all its solemn responsibilities. it's